More Couch to 5k encouragement!

[PrincessWatermelon]

I hope it's ok starting a new thread. I found the last one so encouraging and didn't want it to stop!!

Also, have to share I've just done W6R3 - my first 25 min run. Wasn't sure I was going to make it to the end, but kept moving (as Jo Whiley told me to) and did it!!

How are others getting on?

No idea where it came from tbh, at the start of the run I thought I couldnt breath properly, it really is a mind of matter thing isnt it?

I listened to the Scarlett Moffet podcast and that took my mine off it.

Omg!!! Totally impressed with myself. Went from w8r2 on Sunday with 3.32Km distance and average pace of 9.03 per km(30 mins)to today’s w8r3 with 3.89 Km distance and 8.06 Per km(30mins ) none of the times or distance include warm up or warm down. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM???So looking at 40 mins ish for 5km. Not bad for an unfit 44 year old who could run one minute 8 weeks ago. Anyone thinking of starting C25K stick with it . God I’m so happy today 😀

Fellrunner85 yes it's hillier. I know they have handicaps based on the courses. I am not worrying about the timing, I just know I will find that much uphill running harder than a flatter course.

Oooh, which one is it @StripyHorse? Wondering if I've done it. You need to embrace the hills (or "mounds of opportunity") as what goes up must come down!!

@fellrunner85 it is Wepre Park in N Wales. I do have to have some uphill running but nothing compared to the hills there!! I know the park well and there are some pretty steep hills!

Managed 30 minutes tonight. Felt sick as a dog all day so glad I could do it. Was touch and go.

Congrats @Sexnotgender, I just can’t imagine doing it. Are you feeling sick because of tomorrow or are you sick sick?

I completed week 4 this morning. I’ve bought some knee supports because I could feel my knee starting to hurt earlier this week, they seem to have helped a bit so hopefully will help next week with the longer runs.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I’m pregnant not ill 😊 morning (lol, more like all day) sickness is kicking my ass.

Week 9 run 2 today. Decided to go for it and do 5k - went a different route and did it in 31:44 .

Feels good

@Sexnotgender ahh congratulations but also you poor thing! I have morning sickness (all day) for 17 weeks with my eldest, it was grim. Amazed that you can run while feeling like that, double bonus points for you!

Well done @MirandaWest I may get there one day, doubt it will be in five weeks though!

Thanks @JustHereWithMyPopcorn 😊

Wow @MirandaWest that’s impressive!!

Thank you - I have run in the past (looking back at previous park run results my best ever was my first in 2012 which I did in 28 min 16 ) but this is my fastest 5k since January 2019.

Dh and I were planning to do 20 Parkruns in 2020 but COVID-19 has rather got in the way...my other 2020 parkruns were mostly around 33-35 min so this feels good.

Haven’t done one in 30 min since 2014 so I guess that’s my target

W4 R1 done! I was really nervous about this one as 5 minutes felt like a huge step up. Definitely really hard work... but I don't think I actually felt worse after it than I did after W1 R1!

Best Happy Running Playlist to see me round today:

• Don't you forget about me for the warm-up walking down to the river
• Footloose
• Don't stop me now
• Eye of the Tiger
• Titanium
• Proud Mary (came on just at the beginning of the 2nd 5 minute run and I thought oh no I need something fast now! But actually the slow start was perfect to pace me and the fast 2nd half really kept me going to the end)
• Good as hell & Wake me up before you go go (perfect for the walk home!)

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I took music inspiration from you!

I'm still having trouble with the GPS on my phone though. It's fine if I'm running most places, but it has trouble with the river which is my favourite route. Just a mess and adds a couple of k onto the distance which means I can't compare my pace really (not that it's that important at this stage).

Today I did cross and recross 3 bridges, but not in this weird scribble way

@sleepyhead that playlist sounds great

I’ve been running to Avicii all the way through - think I should stick with it for my graduation run but then I’ll mix things up a bit

Well done sleepyhead!! I have just finished the week and genuinely thought I wouldn't do it. It sounds like such a short time but it really isn't when you're not a runner.

I had some Missy Elliot today, good beats for running to.

After two disastrous runs, w9r2 was a success! And inspired by you wonderful women, at 30 minutes I felt like I had a bit more in me, so kept going for another five minutes to do 4K for the first time!

Graduation run this weekend - eek!

Currently listening to Hamilton on a loop almost constantly. Might try podcasts once I’ve graduated!

@TeamEponine

After two disastrous runs, w9r2 was a success! And inspired by you wonderful women, at 30 minutes I felt like I had a bit more in me, so kept going for another five minutes to do 4K for the first time!

Graduation run this weekend - eek!

Currently listening to Hamilton on a loop almost constantly. Might try podcasts once I’ve graduated!

Well done teameponine . I’m aiming for 4Km tomorrow.

If anyone has got Amazon Prime music they have playlists with different bmp music. I went through the 120bmp list and downloaded ones I thought DD1 and I would like onto a new playlist.

It really seemed to help. We were 4 mins in to the 2nd 8 min run (w5r2) and heard Sarah Millican telling us we had run for 4 mins and were both surprised that we had been running for that long.

I have just done the final run of week 6- 25 mins! Can't believe I managed it, but I do feel that I'm only very slow, how can I map how far I've actually run?

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide you can use a fitness tracker or an app on your phone. I know lots of people use Strava but you have to pay for that. There might be one already on it (e.g. Samsung health) or you can download things like the fitbit one without a watch paired to it.

W8R3 done this morning. I used the free version of Strava, and it seemed to work. Although it told me what I had long suspected, which is I am so slow there is no way I am even approaching 5k despite being one week away from graduating. I covered 3k in 28 mins. However, I am realistic about this - that was 28 mins of exercise that I wasn't doing nine weeks ago.

@stripyhorse I have just looked as I've got a Samsung, and it's all been logged on the health app! I'm really pleased, although feel a bit spied on 😂
Thank you for letting me know about that!